During the past few seasons members of the Oilers management have made references to wanting to build their team in the same vain as Chicago and Pittsburgh. I have no idea if they will ever have the same success as those two franchises, but right now they are emulating the struggles and lack of success that both those franchises endured before becoming two of the best teams in the NHL.I've cautioned people who only looked at the rebuilds of Chicago and Pittsburgh as blueprints for the Oilers, because the harsh reality is that for every Chicago there are two franchises like Columbus or Atlanta/Winnipeg, and for every Pittsburgh there is a Florida and the New York Islanders.

It was great for the Oilers to aspire to be like the Blackhawks and Penguins, but that was always the "best case scenario."

Many readers won't want to read this, but the truth remains this is only year four of the Oilers rebuild. The previous four seasons were not part of the rebuild. They were four seasons of bad management. That doesn't excuse the Oilers, specifically Kevin Lowe who has been here for all eight years, but if you are someone who was in favour of the rebuild in 2010 then you have to accept the harsh reality of the current timeline.

It is rare for teams to rebuild in a short period of time. The problem is i'm not sure the Oilers truly understood how hard the journey would be. Did they expect this much losing? If so, why did they change coaches every year? It is fair to question if they truly had a plan, and it is more than fair to question whether they have the fortitude or smarts to follow it through and make the correct decisions to become a winner.

When the Oilers management suggested they wanted to follow in the footsteps of the Hawks and Penguins, I wonder if they knew exactly what that entailed? Did they know that the Blackhawks made the playoffs once in ten seasons between 1998 and 2008?

The Hawks didn't have a few years of losing; they had a decade of it.

1998: 9th worst record. Drafted 8th (Mark Bell) after a deal with Toronto1999: 7th worst record. Won lottery, moved up to 4th spot, then traded that pick for Bryan McCabe and the 11th pick in 2000. McCabe played one season in Chicago before being dealt to Toronto for Alex Karpotvsev and a pick.2000: 8th worst record. Picked 10th, due to Minnesota and Columbus entering league, and selected Mikhail Yakubov 10th and used the 11th pick on Pavel Vorobiev. 2001: 9th worst record and they selected Tuomo Ruutu 9th.2002: Made the playoffs. Finished 5th in the west, four points ahead of 9th. Their top six scoring forward were there in 2001 and Jocelyn Thibault was the starter both years, but they added Phil Housley and Jon Klemm on the blueline. They were #2 and #3 in TOI behind Boris Mironov. They made a very smart pick in the 2nd round selecting Duncan Keith 45th overall.2003: 14th worst record. They selected Brent Seabrook. They took Corey Crawford in the 2nd round and Dustin Byfuglien in the 9th.2004: 2nd worst record. Washington won the lottery so the Hawks dropped to 3rd and picked Cam Barker after missing out on Ovechkin and Malkin. The Hawks had 17 draft picks that year and took Dave Bolland 32nd, Bryan Bickell 41st and Troy Brouwer 214th. 2005: No season, but they picked 7th after the lottery and took Jack Skille. They chose Niklas Hjalmarsson 108th overall.2006: 3rd worst record. They happily took Jonathan Toews at #3.2007: 5th worst record. They won the lottery and took Patrick Kane first overall. (Sidenote, the Oilers never would have gotten Kane. Had they lost their final game of the season to the Flames they would have finished with the 4th worst record not the fifth.)2008: 11th worst record. Took Kyle Beach with the 11th pick.

During the first half of that decade of losing none of the Hawks top picks made an impact in Chicago, however, between 2002-2007 the foundation of their team was built through the draft. Kane, Toews, Seabrook, Keith, Hjalmarsson, Crawford, Bickell, Bolland, Brouwer and Byfuglien were all key players in one or both of their Stanley Cup victories.

However, it wasn't like they planned to go from being a playoff team in 2002, to missing out by one point in 2003 to being a bottom three team in 2004, 2006 and 2007. You can make a strong argument that their most important decision came from a stroke of luck; winning the draft lottery.

Toews is the heart and soul of that team, but Kane is his deadly sidekick, and I don't see them winning the Cup without Kane. You need some luck and good fortune along the way to win a Cup, but to become a consistent contender you need to build the majority of the key pieces via the draft.

The Oilers have an excellent chance of mirroring the Hawks decade of losing, but they will be hard pressed to go from being a bottom feeder to a Cup contender like the Hawks, because no two paths to Cup success are the same.

The Oilers don't have a Keith or Seabrook right now. You can argue that Petry could be their Hjalmarsson and Eberle was an outstanding pick at #22, but other than a long stretch of losing, I've never made the direct comparison between the two organizations.

The Hawks stunk for a decade, and if Bill Wirtz hadn't passed away in the fall of 2007, I wonder if the Hawks would have had the same success. Wirtz was a very generous man who donated millions of dollars to the Boys and Girls Clubs and other charities, but he was incredibly frugal when it came to the Blackhawks. For years he wouldn't show Blackhawks' home games on television. He alienated his fans to the point that when the Blackhawks held a moment of silence in his honour prior to a game in October of 2007 some fans booed.

The Hawks success was a combination of good drafting, some lottery luck and a change in leadership.

Will the Oilers do the same?

WHAT ABOUT PITTSBURGH?

Most people know that the Penguins had five consecutive top-five picks between 2002-2006, but prior to those five lean years the Penguins were a great organization.

The Penguins made the playoffs for 11 consecutive seasons before missing them in 2002. Jaromir Jagr entered the NHL in 1990/1991 and that is when the Penguins 11-year streak began. They also had some guy named Mario Lemieux who was also pretty good.

Jagr came in when their run started, and when he was traded on July 11th, 2001that marked the beginning of their five years in suckville.

The Penguins made it to the conference finals in 2001, losing 4-1 to New Jersey, but Jagr was traded that summer and Lemieux only played 26 games in 2002.

2002: 5th worst record. They drafted Ryan Whitney. They also selected Max Talbot 234th overall.2003: 2nd worst record. Florida won the lottery and had the first pick. The Penguins had the 3rd choicel, and they moved that pick along with the 55th pick (Stefan Meyer) and Mikael Samuelsson to Florida for the 1st and 73rd pick (Daniel Carcillo).The Penguins took Marc-Andre Fleury first overall.2004: Worst record in the NHL. Washington won the lottery and picked first, (Ovechkin) and the Penguins grabbed Evgeni Malkin at #2. They took Alex Goligoski 61st and Tyler Kennedy 99th.2005: No season. The history of the Penguins changed due to luck. They won the lottery and had the pleasure of selecting Sidney Crosby. They chose Kris Letang 62nd that year as well.2006: 2nd worst record. They selected Jordan Staal 2nd overall.

There is no Crosby in Edmonton, and on any other team for that matter, so it is very difficult for the Oilers to follow the Penguins' path to success. The Penguins drafted three centres, one goalie and a D-man who they used in a trade to acquire Chris Kunitz.

The Penguins went from being very good to terrible in the span of 10 months.

Their five-year drought was painful, but they got Crosby and Malkin; two of the top-five players in the NHL. It is impossible to match that blueprint. The Penguins also got an elite D-man in the 3rd round, similar to the Blackhawks landing Keith.

The Oilers are on pace to grab their 5th consecutive pick in the top-seven, and while that will put them on par with the draft positioning of the Penguins, it doesn't mean their five picks will be as impactful as the Penguins. Just like the Hawks, the Penguins caught a huge break by winning the lottery and selecting a dynamic and dominant player.

The Oilers have also won the lottery, but Nail Yakupov hasn't come close to matching the early success of Kane or Crosby. He likely will produce more in the future, but I don't ever see him being in the same category as those two players.

The one similarity that I do see unfolding with the Oilers, that we also saw in Pittsburgh and Chicago, will be trading away one of their top-five picks.

The Hawks moved Cam Barker for Kim Johnsson and Nick Leddy, while the Pens moved Whitney for Kunitz and after winning a Cup, they had to move (pending UFA) Staal for Brandon Sutter and Derrick Pouliot.

The Oilers are similar to the Penguins in their draft position, and are on the verge of being on par with the Blackhawks when it comes to a decade of losing. Now, it is up to MacTavish to see if he can build this team into a contender. They still have a lot of work to do.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN?

It is great to have a goal to strive for, but the I've always felt it was a bit of pipedream to believe you could emulate the road to success of the Penguins or Blackhawks. The fact is there is no guarantee of success in the NHL.

Having consecutive top-five picks should give you a good base, but only if you use the picks properly. Either you pick the best combination of players, or you pick the ones that you will be able to move for assets in the future. The Oilers aren't in a position to trade one of those picks today, but they will need to in the future.

The other difference between the Oilers and the Hawks and Penguins thus far is drafting depth outside of a top-ten pick. The Blackhawks built the depth of their team through the draft, and many of them were a bit more mature by the time Kane and Toews burst on the scene.

The Penguins surrounded their young players with productive and experienced players. In 2008 when they lost in the Cup final, they added Hal Gill, Pascal Dupuis and Marian Hossa. The next year when they won the Cup they acquired Kunitz, Bill Guerin and Craig Adams. The Oilers will need to make smart moves and acquire some veterans to support their young stars.

The Hawks also had three drafted D-men on their blueline in Keith, Seabrook and Hjalmarsson.

The only drafted D-man the Oilers curently have on the roster is Petry. We expect Oscar Klefbom, Darnell Nurse and possibly Martin Marincin to play in the future, but if the Oilers are going to succeed then one of those three will need to be an impact player within three seasons. That is a lot to ask of a young D-man.

If I had to pick, I'd say the Oilers have a better chance of following the Penguins path than the Blackhawks, strictly because the Hawks D-men were more mature than their forwards when they won. The Penguins went out and signed a veteran top-pairing D-man in Gonchar, which is a more realistic option for the Oilers. They either trade for one this summer or try and sign one via free agency this summer.

Trading or signing an elite D-man is going to be extremely difficult. If they don't go that route, I don't see how this team can take the steps needed to becoming a competitive team.

I understand the frustration amongst Oilers fans. You are sick of watching a losing product, and you should be. However, the Oilers haven't been rebuilding for eight years. From 2007-2010 they tried being competitive, but they failed. They made some questionable trades and free agent signings, and the only reason they actually went into a rebuild was due to numerous injuries to key players during the 2009/2010 season. They didn't plan to rebuild, it just unfolded that way.

That doesn't excuse Kevin Lowe, far from it, but the biggest mistake the Oilers could make today is to try and speed up the rebuild. If they need to fire someone within the organization to appease their fans, then they have to do it, but if they try to deviate from their original plan, or try and speed up the process, then there is a very good chance they will end up driving this team into an even longer cycle of losing. They have to see the process through, and accept that there might be some empty seats in the process. If they try to change the plan now, they likely will screw it up even worse.

Eakins was pretty fired up about the fan who threw his jersey on the ice. "That's a bunch of bull crap. Whoever through that jersey on the ice is a quitter and they're out. I never want our players to quit," said Eakins. Every sports team values the jersey, it is very symbolic and I see why the coach didn't like it. He was okay with fans booing, said his team deserved it, but the jersey was offside. I'm guessing this will be a hot topic amongst Oiler fans. Some I spoke to loved it, while others felt it was disrespectful to the jersey.

My personal opinion on it is this. Eakins is in a no win situation. They didn't need another distraction, although I'm guessing that was his plan. Have fans hate him, not the team.

Also...If the fan who threw it is officially done with the Oilers, then he went out with a bang. If he threw it on the ice, but will be back watching them tonight then it was just a moment of dumb frustration and rather bushleague. You can be upset at the Oilers, yell at them because they haven't improved, demand that Lowe be fired. That is fair game. Tossing a jersey, or anything else on the ice, other than a hat after a hat trick, should not be applauded.

I do believe many fans are fed up and likely won't go to any games or watch any until the Oilers improve, and if you are strong enough to stay away I tip my hat to you. I'm a diehard Dolphins fan, and my team has stunk for the most part of the past two decades, yet everytime I think I'm done with them they win a few games and I get sucked back in. It is very hard to stop cheering for a team, and if you are able to do it then you are stronger than me. Good on ya.

LINEUP

It shouldn't matter who they play with, the entire team's focus should be about working hard and competing. If they don't instill that into their foundation this team will never improve. Eakins juggled his lines and came up with these new combos at practice yesterday.

GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers worst game of the year was the 5-0 loss to Detroit. They rebounded three days later and beat Florida on the road. Tonight is different. They are at home and their fans are frothing at the mouth in frustration. If they have any pride they will put forth a good effort. If they don't, the fans won't hold back their displeasure. The Oilers avoid a raucous round of boos with a 4-3 win.

OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The Oilers announce a sell out, but there will be some empty seats. Whether they are paid for or not, the message should be clear to the Oilers; patience is wearing thin amongst Oiler fans.

NOT-SO-OBVIOUS GAME DAY PREDICTION: The powerplay doesn't give up a good scoring chance.

DAY 16: MONTH OF GIVING...

Today is our final day, so if you haven't finished your Christmas shopping you could do it during the show and help out Santas Anonymous and The Christmas Bureau at the same time.

One of Canada's most versatile sports personalities. Jason hosts The Jason Gregor Show, weekdays from 2 to 6 p.m., on TSN 1260, and he writes a column every Monday in the Edmonton Journal. You can follow him on Twitter at twitter.com/JasonGregor

Sad times being an Oilers fan....i'll never forget seeing the picture of that expensive Oilers jersey on the ice, truly an epic moment in Oilers history (and unfortunately not one of the many great ones the Oilers have).

I was thinking, what us fans should do is decide to pick a home game upcoming on the schedule (maybe sometime in January or whenever), and just completely boycott going to it.

If we can raise some type of media hype, be it by calling into the 630 ched, writing a blog on here, writing into tsn/sportsnet/HNIC, as well as the Edmonton Journal and Sun, we could actually raise awareness for fans to boycott the game, and just have the arena empty.

If the media knew this was the plan by the fans, then I would think that the buzz would grow and grow on its own, and really cause a disturbance. Imagine if lowe knew this was coming ahead of time? Wow, I would think that even he, with all his arrogance, would not have a "6 rings" type answer.

If all fans buy into it, it would really show some dissatisfaction and really voice our displeasure, and just further the already epic jersey ice toss, but in a more costly way, to the Oilers brass and the fans.

I know I don't speak for everyone but I I know my personal beef with this team is the effort they put in every night. I expected them to lose quite a bit this season. I think most people did. However, when players can't seem to put in a 60 minute effort is when I get frustrated. I don't know if Eakins is shell shocked but he looks seriously confused. Even Perron made a comment about how he can't believe Eakins did not lay into this team after last game? There is no passion in this organization. From Lowe pissing around on his phone to Eakins calmly taking another beating on the bench the team has lost its mojo. This lack of passion seems to transition right through to the players who in turn stop giving a rats a$$. I want to see some water bottles thrown, some ejections, players stopping at the crease and standing up for each other. This team is missing heart and that is why I am frustrated. I don't see frustration out on the ice I see indifference and that's what gets the fans ticked off. It goes beyond simply losing.

Step #4: Trade anyone with value for a package of players. -----------------------------------------------------------Step #5: Draft based on teams needs.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Step #6: Work like a MO-Fo to sign quality Free Agents in the summer with out over paying or committing.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Of course all of this is probably a lot easier said than done (especially Steps #1 and 2)!

Given that we are mired in a terrible season, how upset would you be if I said "minor rebuild" starting now. Just curious...

...if I told you that this skill-possession type game isn't going to happen for this team and I wanted to change to a heavy game, does that sound interesting? Build around a defense of Klefbom, Nurse, and possibly Ekblad and acquire or draft heavy forwards gearing towards a forecheck type game with size and speed like San Jose. I think Hall could play under this system and I'd keep RNH just because I know how hard it is to acquire #1 centres.

Part of why I put up the previous post is because many of us watched the lunch pail Oilers of the Doug Weight era. The little engine that could that ground out wins against more skilled teams, it was the right team for the right town. Reading some of the comments, I'd say many of you prefer that type of game as well.

We are all entitled to our opinion and I understand yours. As a coach and yes just at bantam AAA the Jersey is a sacred thing and needs to be respected. I think with Eakins comments they resonate with the fans the arrogant attitude that KLOWE Mac T and Katz have shown to this fan base.

Jason the reason why Oilers fans have the right to be angry and why your comparison of "Chicago had an even worse go for a decade" is because the Oilers consistently finish lower than the Blackhawks (26 teams and in the league and all). When your team is the certified last place team for multiple years compared to just a low rank team there is more reason to be upset.

The record shows if you want to compare the two teams directly by Points after 82 games(including on pace) and finishing spot in the league (by year into losing streak)

I think it's pretty clear the Oilers have finished or will finish lower in the ranking more often than the Blackhawks as well as having actually finished last a few more times. They also finish on average 5.25 slots lower than Chicago did in their losing years.

The fans have endured a bit more terrible play here than other places.

I listened to all 2 minutes and the meat of what he said remains the same. The comments were incredibly ill advised.

a) It is galactically stupid for Eakins to pretend he is calling out "one fan" when so many people are in support of what that fellow did, or at least really understand why he did it and hope this can become a rallying point for change...

b) It's naive to imagine there won't be more jerseys on the ice after the next Oiler loss... What's your move then Eakins? War with the fanbase?

c) It's pathetic he didn't see the irony of his comments when it was his team that had so clearly quit.

I just... I dunno. I have a hard time dumping on the guy and the team when things have so clearly gone sideways and the criticism is now constant. I have a hard time blaming him for trying to create something positive out of a negative event - however justified that negative event is.

This rebuild is going to produce a highly defensive team with great puckmoving and stingy defense...only it's about 5 years away. We'll have:
Nurse - Petry
Klefbom - Schultz
Ference - Marincin

The forwards will be the forwards...we'll likely still have Hall/Nuge/Ebs, and Gagner will be gone via free agency, Yak to trade, Perron to free agency, and everyone else will have been flushed out and gone or retired.

With any luck there'll be a veteran or 2 who will lead this group of dmen to learn the ropes of the NHL. Otherwise it'll take longer.

Do you believe that the fans in Detroit should be thrown out for the Octupus on the ice? During the fluke cup run here were you horrified that the steak was thrown on the ice? Did you immediatly call the cops?

When a hat trick gets scored do you get nervous that a riot squad will appear to deal with all the miscreants and vandals who are not living up to the obligation of what their ticket says?

These last 6 games were exactly what I expected. Psalm 23 folks is my mantra.Talk about the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Cripes we knew it was coming.Yet when these 6 games came and went it left many of us still wondering if our faith in the players and management was/is warranted?

The good news is that the light of a new day can bring new hope to all of us Oiler fans.

The Oilers have a chance to recover some of their confidence with games against the Jets,the Flames and the Flyers. We hope.

I look at the last 6 games as a test of our faith in all things Oilers. Like many of you I get crazy when we see how easily St Louis ran our show. 6-0 is in the books.

Now is the time to renew our faith in the team. Not leave them wandering alone in the wilderness.

Those of you who go to the game tonight show your faith and your support for this team.They need cheers not jeers. Their confidence is shaken so a show of support is needed.

Entirely possible, though one would imagine that a "winner" like Kevin wouldn't require deals from Gregor to score stylish Menswear, pretty much anything he puts on would attain the level of high style due to clothings association with a true "winner" like Kevin.

Better to go get 4 Oilers jerseys and throw them on the ice tonight at various times. Oh wait, not a good idea. That would put about $300 of the 4 jersey sale into the pockets of Katz. Just what he wants. The only thing that matters to him, because clearly the quality of the hockey team means nothing to him.

These last 6 games were exactly what I expected. Psalm 23 folks is my mantra.Talk about the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Cripes we knew it was coming.Yet when these 6 games came and went it left many of us still wondering if our faith in the players and management was/is warranted?

The good news is that the light of a new day can bring new hope to all of us Oiler fans.

The Oilers have a chance to recover some of their confidence with games against the Jets,the Flames and the Flyers. We hope.

I look at the last 6 games as a test of our faith in all things Oilers. Like many of you I get crazy when we see how easily St Louis ran our show. 6-0 is in the books.

Now is the time to renew our faith in the team. Not leave them wandering alone in the wilderness.

Those of you who go to the game tonight show your faith and your support for this team.They need cheers not jeers. Their confidence is shaken so a show of support is needed.

Merry Christmas

Yeah, thats right, go ahead and look for the "light of a new day". Not happening. Can't possibly happen under this regime. Hasn't happened for a decade. What makes you think it will change now? Keep drinking the 6Ring flavoured Kool-Aid.

Step #4: Trade anyone with value for a package of players. -----------------------------------------------------------Step #5: Draft based on teams needs.-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Step #6: Work like a MO-Fo to sign quality Free Agents in the summer with out over paying or committing.------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- -------------------------------------------- Of course all of this is probably a lot easier said than done (especially Steps #1 and 2)!

Let's just go to step # 3 and call it a day. Everything after that should be easy.

I just watched the Eakins jersey comments. If I didn't see his lips moving, I'd have said Kevin Lowe made that statement. Can you imaging a professional coach throwing a fan under the bus because his team is playing like crap? Lowe alienated the fans before the season started. Eakins just downright pissed them all away. Every jersey should be thrown on the bench tonight, at Eakins so he can see how many quitters are actually in the stands. I can't believe the arrogance of these guys. The seats have stayed relatively full night in and night out for the 29th place team in the NHL and he throws the only person with some balls under the bus. This guy should be buried in jerseys tonight, then marched right out of town!

For accuracy MacT quit. And since he has the Oilers have been even worse so maybe he wasnt as bad a coach as some said. He had crap teams mainly.

Lowe was asked about MacT credentials at time he was hired. Do you think he should be asked about it every day?

Mact had been on job for 8 months... you can hate the hire, buy you or I can't say if it was good or bad at this point. Too early to tell. Questioning Lowe is fair and it had been done but owner is tight with him. I doubt that changes when he keeps making millions.

Yes Mac T quit...after the pressure from fans and media had driven Katz to publicly state that his job was safe.

Seems to me maybe he quit so katz wouldnt have to fire him. ( I hear Mact and Katz may have been or are friends ouside of the Oilers) Maybe Lowe and Katz say to him. You resign.

Go bum around for a couple years and we of course will bring you back.

Explains why he never stayed anywhere else (except for the incompetence part) You come back when the heat is off and the fans will love it.

Lowe thinks to himself that is gonna be an awesome presser. "Ladies and gentlemen of the world. I now announce what you have demanded for so long...The return of one of the greatest Oilers (well he was pretty good and won some cups with me) MacT!!! " Easiest sell i will ever make. hehe

Couldn't disagree with Gregor more on this one. If fans can throw $30 hats on the ice in celebration of a great night from a player, and sometimes even underwear, with no complaints at all, then that same fan can throw his jersey on the ice when he has finally had enough. Arguing what fine print on a ticket says as your argument is just pathetic.

As far as that guy not coming to any more games, or its bush league if he does, Id still go to most, but I would not spend ONE nickel on drinks, food, merchandise or even at Rex drugs. Id still go because unfortunately Ive already paid for my seat.

The only thing bush league about this are Eakins comments. He should've taken the high road, like a professional, and said something along the lines of "this his opinion and I disagree we work hard blah blah blah". Not rip into the fan.

Its not just the mounting losses in the rebuild, its the flat out lack of compete from too many of the players. Some fans put in more effort getting to and from the game on a cold night than some of the players do on the ice. Shameful.

Just listened to Stauffer on the radio and I'm so furious I'm vibrating... His take: Eakins and MacTavish haven't even had a full year yet so we need to be patient.

Remember when we missed the playoffs in 2007 and we needed to be patient because we were re-tooling after Pronger left..?..

And then we missed the playoffs in 2008 and we needed to be patient because we had to let our exciting young core of Nilsson, Cogliano and Gagner grow and mature..??..

And then we missed the playoffs in 2009 but we had to be patient because Tambellini had only been general manager for one season..????..

And then in 2010 we finished last and missed the playoffs but we were going to need to be patient because we were just now starting a rebuild for the very first time with the Hall pick...?????..

And then in 2011 we finished last and missed the playoffs but still needed to be more patient because we were still by Stauffer's math in the first year of a rebuild..??????..

And then in 2012 we finished second last and missed the playoffs but needed to be patient because we were in the second year of a rebuild... and we had a brand new coach..???????..

And in 2013 we finished 24th and missed the playoffs but we no longer had to be to patient because our brand new General Manager is an "impatient guy" who predicted "some pretty immediate growth and change"..????????..

In 2014 we are trending towards our worst season in franchise history and Stauffer has the nerve to trot out the excuse that MacTavish and Eakins deserve MORE TIME??????????

More time for a coach that is stupid enough to call a frustrated fan a quitter and then quote a never quit the fight mantra one day after his team folded the tent after going down by only 2 goals in the second period of a nationally televised game?

More time for a GM who fired the last coach after only 48 games... a GM who is such a good evaluator of talent that he said his 2008/2009 team was the most skilled group he ever worked with and figured they would challenge for the division... and when that didn't happen; he quit? After years of high picks this team is a poorer functioning mirror of the 2008/2009 team that was filled with too many small, soft, perimeter type players to seriously compete for anything meaningful in the Western Conference... We are going in circles!

Are you sure you were listening to Bobby Stauffer or his new clone and sellout Jason Gregor. Looks like Katz is spending money on buying the podium of the media guys in this town and not spending it on the team. I respect gregor and what he has done for this town but just listen to his show now and tell me he isnt a clone of Stauffer. This organization is ARROGANT towards the paying fans in this town and to have to hear these media guys making excuses for this arrogance is honestly too much to handle and we as fans vote with our time and attention and I for one will not support either of these Oiler Apologists.

Just listened to Stauffer on the radio and I'm so furious I'm vibrating... His take: Eakins and MacTavish haven't even had a full year yet so we need to be patient.

Remember when we missed the playoffs in 2007 and we needed to be patient because we were re-tooling after Pronger left..?..

And then we missed the playoffs in 2008 and we needed to be patient because we had to let our exciting young core of Nilsson, Cogliano and Gagner grow and mature..??..

And then we missed the playoffs in 2009 but we had to be patient because Tambellini had only been general manager for one season..????..

And then in 2010 we finished last and missed the playoffs but we were going to need to be patient because we were just now starting a rebuild for the very first time with the Hall pick...?????..

And then in 2011 we finished last and missed the playoffs but still needed to be more patient because we were still by Stauffer's math in the first year of a rebuild..??????..

And then in 2012 we finished second last and missed the playoffs but needed to be patient because we were in the second year of a rebuild... and we had a brand new coach..???????..

And in 2013 we finished 24th and missed the playoffs but we no longer had to be to patient because our brand new General Manager is an "impatient guy" who predicted "some pretty immediate growth and change"..????????..

In 2014 we are trending towards our worst season in franchise history and Stauffer has the nerve to trot out the excuse that MacTavish and Eakins deserve MORE TIME??????????

More time for a coach that is stupid enough to call a frustrated fan a quitter and then quote a never quit the fight mantra one day after his team folded the tent after going down by only 2 goals in the second period of a nationally televised game?

More time for a GM who fired the last coach after only 48 games... a GM who is such a good evaluator of talent that he said his 2008/2009 team was the most skilled group he ever worked with and figured they would challenge for the division... and when that didn't happen; he quit? After years of high picks this team is a poorer functioning mirror of the 2008/2009 team that was filled with too many small, soft, perimeter type players to seriously compete for anything meaningful in the Western Conference... We are going in circles!

If I could have your attention. Here is a good website where you can get cheap ammo. Don't put money in Katz's pocket with NHL authentic wear just buy these chinese knockoff's to fire on the ice in disgust.

Haha us fans are fickle. Gregor has nothing to gain by agreeing with any of us or going against any of us. Hes in media boys and girls, he will always look at both sides of the fence wheither we like it or not. Same with Stauff. What I dont agree on is, fans need to make a statement, so I am ok with a jersey being thrown on the ice. What else are we supposed to do? Nothing else seems to make a difference, if we held a public jersey burning ceremony we would be bashed endlessly (like chris pronger did when we said we burned the furniture that he rented)

Eakins' message is for the players. If it comes across as harsh, that's just where we are at this point.

You play for pride. And pride in your game refers to your overall game and overall effort, not just your goals and assists. If you have no pride in your game, you'll never win. It's evident that the kids still need to learn this.

Does anyone remember the movie The Toy starring Richard Pryor? A billionaire buys him - similar to another certain billionaire buying living hockey cards. He appears to not care a lick about what is going on with the team on the ice, only the one from the 80's. I think that most people can agree that as long as he is making money, he won't change a thing. The issue is that most of the seats are seasons ticket holders and most of those are corporate owned and they also don't really care about what goes on with the team. I'm a Tier 1 fan and would have gotten rid of my tickets had my wife not convinced me to hold on to them for our kids on the hope that one day the team will deserve the respect they seem to think we fans (Tier 2 and 3 too) owe them.

Does anyone remember the movie The Toy starring Richard Pryor? A billionaire buys him - similar to another certain billionaire buying living hockey cards. He appears to not care a lick about what is going on with the team on the ice, only the one from the 80's. I think that most people can agree that as long as he is making money, he won't change a thing. The issue is that most of the seats are seasons ticket holders and most of those are corporate owned and they also don't really care about what goes on with the team. I'm a Tier 1 fan and would have gotten rid of my tickets had my wife not convinced me to hold on to them for our kids on the hope that one day the team will deserve the respect they seem to think we fans (Tier 2 and 3 too) owe them.

Regarding all the sacred jersey nonsense, the respect is with the jersey that is worn by a team and its players; not the extremely expensive knock-offs sold to further pad the millionaires pockets. What someone chooses to do with their own clothing is their choice.

Jason Gregor's comments "If he threw it on the ice, but will be back watching them tonight then it was just a moment of dumb frustration and rather bushleague" is in my opinion crap. This fans gesture has spoken volumes already so no matter if he goes to the next game or not, the statement was made and a lot of people, including me, agree with it.

This team has appeared to quit day in and day out and Eakin's comments is just to deflect attention from these spoiled millionaires who are slowly losing touch with reality as do most sports stars and entertainers. I'm not a big win/loss guy, but rather appreciate effort. This team neither puts in an effort nor many wins and they should start looking closer at the work ethic of that other crappy Albertan team.

Wake up folks. The rebuild is nothing but marketing. All teams are trying to get better all the time.

The rebuild doctrine is seductive because it enables a sense of justice and equilibrium: "If we suck long enough, it can only be balanced with winning later."

No such thing. Look at Detroit. They've been competitive for years. Now look at Florida. They've been in the doldrums for years. A team's long-term success is built on having able, competent people in the right positions through out the organization. The Oilers do not have that. Instead of filling posiitons through merit, they've been filled through patronage. Once the ex-Oiler cabal is kicked out, only then can the Oilers begin the slow heeling process.

In short. Next time someone discusses the 'rebuild', pour some cold water on their head.

"Tossing a jersey, or anything else on the ice, other than a hat after a hat trick, should not be applauded". Whats the difference, hat or jersey, octopus or piece of steak (remember that)? 70% of the people who throw their hat on the ice after a hat trick always ask an usher if they can get their hat back. Trust me I know. I moved to Edmonton in 1998. Every year...every year since then the Oilers have fought to make the playoffs or they have been eliminated early. I know, I was in the building for a lot of those years. The year we went to the final, we made the playoffs on the last night of the season, then we went on a roll. An abomination yes, but a nice one. So telling us that a rebuild has been going on for only four years is pure crap. This rebuild has been going on for 12 to 15 years. The only difference is everyone accepted it. Mediocrity is what this city has become. "The City Formerly Known As the City of Champions" is what the signs should read. I'm sick and tired of media sucking up to "pro athletes". Many even call them continuously by their first names. As people in the position you are in you SHOULD be asking tougher questions. But you don't, because heaven forbid you lose your privilege to the pre game feast in the media room, or some "pro" athlete stops talking to you. You might even get barred from the dressing room. If that happens your world would be shattered. Getting barred from the dressing room would be a badge of honour, it would show the true face of this organization! Not only has the Edmonton Oiler organization, management and ownership let this city down, it has alienated and ignored its fan base. As media, you should be pursuing the story and asking the questions fans want answered. These are big boys. They make lots of money for what they do. You won't hurt their feelings, and if you do, then maybe they should seek other employment. Stop bending over to always find excuses and start being journalists instead of fans. They're just hockey players, not cancer researchers, who do their jobs very poorly and the organization as a whole needs to be made accountable to the fans and the city for the crap they parade out on a nightly basis year after year.

I remember the George Burnett days as the darkest times as a season ticket holder. I was curious so I looked up his record.
When he was canned his record was
35 games 12 wins 20 losses 3 ties
He was selling basically the same bill of goods as Eakins is, new captain (corson,ference), youth movement, hard work every night, blah blah blah.
At no point since then have I looked back and thought, man if we had just gave Burnett more time.

You are so far put of touch with the Oil fan base it's scary. Tossing a jersey after the game is over is completely different than concerns about tossing things on the ice during the game. If you can't understand this difference you are an idiot, and I don't think you are an idiot. Far from being "bush league" it was a profound expression.

As for Eakins calling the guy a quitter. A coach shouldn't pick a fight with the fans, he will always lose.

If the Oil lose again tonight I think we will see more than one jersey. If they lose badly we will see many.

If I were a suspicious type I might be concerned that TSN has told it's employees to go easy on the Oil as they would like to unseat CHED as the rights holder next time around and don't want to piss off the empire.

Regardless of context, it's incredibly foolish of Eakins to label any fan as a quitter. He's had about three months of being paid to put up with this crap, how many years have the fans been the ones PAYING to put up with it???

Like the one comment, this is a display of passion, and a bold one. I think you can defile a jersey, kill a sacred cow, even burn a flag, but you damn well better have a point and have the conviction of it. Well, I think the guy has a point and it was past time it was made. Dollar for dollar it was the most effective message sent by anyone this year.

I remember the George Burnett days as the darkest times as a season ticket holder. I was curious so I looked up his record.
When he was canned his record was
35 games 12 wins 20 losses 3 ties
He was selling basically the same bill of goods as Eakins is, new captain (corson,ference), youth movement, hard work every night, blah blah blah.
At no point since then have I looked back and thought, man if we had just gave Burnett more time.

Props on that comment. I was thinking the same.

You are right, and I don't think we will ever say the same about Eakins unless the correct thing happens and we rid ourselves of him...looks like we are stuck with him though.

Does anyone ever notice how eakins sounds like a complete idiot when he speaks? I like a coach that speaks with passion, and don't mind if a he gets fired up and lets out some steam every now and then (torts, roy, laviolette as examples), but eakins fits right into the oilers mold:
an arrogant guy who doesn't think before he speaks (similar to lowe with the 6 rings/2 tier fans comments)